Anyone else turned away from booster appointment recently?

[QuietLieDown]

I had an appointment for a booster dose of the covid vaccine today (originally booked for the autumn but I came down with covid 🙄). I booked via the NHS website on 6th Feb. Turned up at a local pharmacy for the appointment to be told that they’d stopped giving jabs on 12th, when the autumn campaign was closed, that they no longer had any in stock and there was nothing they could do. I wasn’t the only one - another person was there for an appointment just before me, and the pharmacist said there had been two people in a similar situation earlier today. Like me, the other person there today had booked in early Feb via the NHS website - which in retrospect was allowing appointments to be booked that were never going to be honoured.

My lovely GP surgery has done their best to help, but can only suggest ringing around pharmacies in case any have any stock left, which I’m doing. I tried 119, and had a rather rude person make it very clear that they had shut up shop and no advice could be given.

Has anyone else had the same experience over the last week, and been able to find a way to get a booster after all?

you only needed to wait 28 days after having Covid before having a booster though.
It was on the news about the autumn boosters finishing 12th Feb so I think it’s unlikely you’d be able to get it now I’m afraid.

www.england.nhs.uk/2023/01/nhs-issues-final-call-to-come-forward-for-covid-booster/

Hi, yes I knew about the 28 days advice. I needed to wait longer for various medical reasons.

The frustrating thing is that I (and the other person who was turned away) booked our appointments well before the 12th, and had no reason to believe they wouldn’t be available as it was all through the official website. I had the usual confirmation text. I knew about the deadline, but because the dates were available on the website I assumed that the deadline meant it wouldn’t be possible to book after 12th, not that previously booked appointments would disappear!

My 16yr old turn away for booster. Turned 16 in Jan though great she can now have booster BUT she had covid in Dec. Thought would be ok as nearly 2 months since covid BUT told the rules for under 18s was a 3 months gap before having a covid jab if had covid infection. So frustrating. Nurse was very nice. Not her fault but frustrating. And since seen the booster programme in autumn is (I think if read correctly) just for older population and those vulnerable.

My 16yo was turned away from a booster as he'd had his original two doses in autumn 2021 (at 15yrs). The website let him book but the GP on site said the risks may out weigh the benefits.

Bit pissed off tbh. He doesn't want any time off school with it. I hope he can get another jab next winter.

Some of it has been an absolute shambles.

I have a CV child and needed to book his 3rd. Firstly I could not book direct and was told to go through the GP. The GP said 'nothing to do with us'. Then I rang the booking service and was told that they were not doing 3rd jabs for any child despite status. In the meantime I was getting letters and reminder letters FROM the NHS reminding me to book for him because of his status. Then all of a sudden I could book online- but for the 15th of Feb (so after the 12th jan) and then turned up not even knowing if we could be turned away and they were indeed running a children's clinic.

I mean- it was truly shambolic. Plus a bloody waste of resources as I am quite sure I am not the only person who was given all this conflicting information.

(after the 12th Feb I mean)

If you're clinically vulnerable won't you still qualify for a booster. If you're not, why do you need one, especially as you have recently had Covid which will have boosted your natural immunity.

Our analysis suggests that the level of protection from past infection by variant and over time is at least equivalent if not greater than that provided by two-dose mRNA vaccines.
www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02465-5/fulltext

That's interesting @WiltingLobelia (not the shambles and hassle you've had, of course) - that your appointment for 15th went ahead. I wonder whether it's only kicked in for appointments this week, or whether it might depend on where you are. Or more likely it's totally random.

And very glad @WiltingLobelia that your child was able to get it.

You seem to spend a lot of time trying to persuade people vacccination is unsafe/uncessary @Hiheyho

The meta-analysis does not suggest there should be changes in policy, or that someone who has previously had COVID would never benefit from a booster vaccines.

I do feel for those authors as I'd be deeply frustrated at my manuscript being repeatedly misinterpreted by various groups to push an agenda.

Thanks OP. I am sorry for the troubles you had.

I suspect things are totally random tbh. But it's not in any way helpful to people.